Ballpark Tours

Mauer to the Hall – A St. Paul Grand Slam

July 17-22

Inductions Weekend at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown brings together revelry and reverence.  It’s like a combination of Mardi Gras and High Mass for baseball fans.  This year, for good reason, Ballpark Tours will be there.  And, we invite you to join us.

Think about the joy of a major-league Grand Slam – a four-base hit with four runs plated. So, how about a St. Paul Grand Slam? St. Paul is about to complete a historic four-bagger in Cooperstown.

The National Baseball Hall of Fame already has honored a trio of St. Paulites (who all spent time with the Twins): Dave Winfield (inducted in 2001), Paul Molitor (2004) and Jack Morris (2018). This year, a fourth St. Paulite will “touch the plate” at Cooperstown (July 21), with the induction of Joe Mauer, who spent his entire MLB career with the Twins.  Joining Mauer as 2024 BBHOF inductees are Adrian Beltre, Todd Helton and Jim Leyland. 

Dave Winfield, Paul Molitor and Joe Mauer are three of only 60 first-ballot inductees in the history of the Baseball Hall of Fame.

It’s only fitting that Ballpark Tours will make the trip to Cooperstown for this event – and that we will do it in style.  We’re calling this BPT Trek Cooperstown 2024 … Mauer to the Hall – a St. Paul Grand Slam.  The time to sign up is now.

Click here for a printable signup sheet.

Celebrating Minnesota Hall of Famers is, by the way, a Ballpark Tours’ tradition. We’ve brought Minnesota Nice and Minnesota Pride to Cooperstown to celebrate Harmon Killebrew, Rod Carew, Paul Molitor, Bert Blyleven, Jim Kaat and Tony Oliva.  We’ve delivered Killebrew’s home run seat, as well as seats and signage from the old Met Stadium to the Baseball Hall.  This year, with Joe Mauer’s strong Minnesota ties, it will be a special “Minnesota Event.” So, join us, on the truly home team, as Saint Paul notches a Hall of Fame Grand Slam.

Here are a few details about this year’s trip, which includes:

• Roundtrip air travel to Syracuse;
• Deluxe coach bus for the remainder of the trip;
• Five nights (breakfast included) at the Utica Delta Marriot Hotel (a scenic 45-minute drive from Cooperstown);
• A National Baseball Hall of Fame Membership;
• The Hall of Fame Parade of Legends;
• The Induction Ceremonies;
• A commemorative (we like to think collectable) Ballpark Tours Cooperstown 2024 T-Shirt;
• Plenty of the usual Ballpark Tours’ fun, friendship and hoopla! (We pride ourselves in hoopla.)

You’ll have two days (Thursday and Friday) to explore the Hall of Fame before the weekend crowds arrive. Museum exhibits can change over time, but as of early February, the highlights listed on the Hall of Fame web page include the Hall of Fame Plaque Gallery; first floor display of Baseball Art; second Floor Grandstand Theatre and the “Generations of the Game” film; “Taking the Field: 19th Century” display; “Baseball Timeline 1900-1960”; “Sacred Ground” (third floor) – a tribute to ballparks past and present.; “Hank Aaron – Chasing the Dream” – a chronicle of Hank Aaron’s life; and much more.

You’ll also have time to enjoy picturesque Cooperstown, which offers everything from bats (and other baseball memorabilia) to boutiques and from beverages (you know what kind we mean) to bakeries.

On Saturday you can expect Cooperstown to be a baseball nirvana – plenty of players and Hall of Famers, autograph signings and special events – including the Parade of Legends.

Sunday, the Induction ceremonies will be the order of the day.

All this for $2285 (double) or $2900 single. It promises to be a Grand Slam of a trip.

Ready to take flight and roll with us into Cooperstown?  Here’s another link to that sign-up form – click here.   If you need more info, you’ll find BPT’s phone number, address and email address at the end of this post.

——Ballpark Tours Bleacher Bums XLI—–

The Tour Operator’s Retirement Trek

June 4-8

Five Days – Four Games – Three Cities – Seven Teams

For those of you who aren’t Roman – Bleacher Bums XLI is Bleacher Bums “41.” That’s right, 41 years of baseball excursions. We’re calling this one “The Tour Operator’s Retirement Trek.” For veteran trekkers, you probably know that’s more of a threat than a promise.

This time around, we’ll see:

• Tuesday, June 4, 6:35 p.m. – The Lake County Captains @ the Beloit Sky Carp (Class A);
• Wednesday, June 5, 7:05 p.m. – White Sox @ Cubs;
• Thursday, June 6, 7:10 p.m. – Red Sox @ White Sox;
• Friday, June 7, 6:40 pm. – Quad Cities River Bandits @ Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (High-A).

As usual, our hotels are located to optimize your opportunities to enjoy local culture, cuisine (including beverages) and nightlife. There’s even two-nights at Chicago’s historic Palmer House (where, by the way, brownies were invented).

Plus, there are all the great Ballpark Tours’ on-board camaraderie, hoopla and just plain fun – not to mention those BPT collector T-Shirts.

There will also be breweries (we are traveling through Wisconsin after all).

All of this and more, for the bargain price of $1,375 per person (double occupancy). The June jaunt is close to full as we post this, so act fast.

For a pintable sign-up sheet, click here.

For More Information on Bleacher Bums XLI or the Cooperstown trek, contact Julian Loscalzo at: 

Ballpark Tours, 1141 Portland Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55104

or

612-328-1145

or

Julian@ballparktours.net